Brand USA launches campaign to reassure foreign travellers

Brand USA, the United States’ national tourism marketing organisation, has launched a new campaign aimed at giving international travellers clearer information on entry procedures, visa questions and other issues affecting confidence in travel to the country, AFAR reported.

Memphis x Las Vegas = An Elvis Love Affair

New seasonal flights launched between the Home of Blues, Soul & Rock’n’Roll and Sin City

Elvis Presley fans will be thrilled to hear that Southwest Airlines is soon launching new seasonal flights to connect two of the most vibrant and Elvis-themed cities in the world - Memphis, Tennessee and Las Vegas, Nevada. The announcement coincides with the kickoff of Elvis Week this week on the 9th of August, which will see tens of thousands of Elvis fans’ pilgrimage to Memphis to commemorate the late King of Rock’n’Roll.

California Central Coast - Earth Day Festivities & Updates

Earth Day Festivities in Central Coast California: Discover the Latest Updates and Sustainable Specials

Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day in Carmel-by-the-Sea on April 22, presented by the City Chamber of Commerce, and Central Coast Community Energy. Discover local green programs, products, and incentives while participating in a tree-planting ceremony, volunteering, and enjoying activities with the Carmel Youth Center.

Jimi Hendrix celebrated in Seattle 50 years on

Considered by many as “Seattle’s Son,” Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in the Emerald City and with his virtuosic guitar playing soon became a superstar and rock legend. In his brief time in the public eye from 1966-1970, he thrilled audiences with his wildly outrageous electric guitar playing, innovative, experimental sound, and unforgettable songwriting.

American travellers losing confidence in #Covid19 information sources, survey claims

According to the most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, the ever-shifting threat of the pandemic has taken its toll on consumer confidence in official information sources. The percentage of travelers relying on information on the safety of U.S. travel from the CDC or other federal health agencies has dropped from 57% on April 22nd to 45% on July 29th.

Colorado welcomes early snowfalls

Snowstorms at the weekend delivered a welcome cover of powder at several resorts across Colorado that are scheduled to open this week, with further heavy snow continuing ahead of Thanksgiving tomorrow (28 November). Aspen Mountain and Snowmass’ openings were brought forward by five days to Saturday 23 November with top to bottom skiing and riding, whilst locals in Telluride were revelling in a Bluebird Day on Saturday after 15 inches of snow was received from one storm, ahead of opening day this Thursday. Skiers and boarders everywhere are hopeful this is a sign of another great season to come for Colorado’s 28 ski areas and resorts.

Aspen Mountain opened on Saturday with 3,200 vertical feet of top to bottom skiing and riding serviced by the Silver Queen Gondola, Ajax Express, and Bell Mountain Chair. Runs include Bellissimo, Upper Copper, Deer Park, Dipsy Doodle, Easy Chair, One and Two Leaf, Pumphouse, Silver Bell, Blondie’s, Pussyfoot Silver Dip and Spar Gultch. This new terrain will add 88 new acres of skiing and riding, bringing the total acreage to 148 on Aspen Mountain. The Sundeck restaurant and Ajax Tavern is open with food and beverage options. Aspen Mountain lifts are running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to open Saturday 7 December.)

Snowmass, which also opened early at the weekend, offers a total of 60 acres of terrain with skiing and riding from the Village Express midway unload point along Upper Scooper to Lower Hal’s Hollow to the bottom of Fanny Hill, as well as at Elk Camp Meadows accessed by the Elk Camp Gondola. The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster is now up-and-running and the Elk Camp Restaurant is also open with food and beverages. The Village Express lift is operating from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the Elk Camp Gondola running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Beaver Creek opened on Saturday 23 November, ahead of its scheduled 27 November opening date, with more than 70 acres of beginner and intermediate terrain accessed by two lifts – Centennial Express Lift and Haymeadow Express Gondola – which commenced at 9:00 a.m. The Beaver Creek Ski & Snowboard School also began with Spruce Saddle and the Ice Cream Parlour now open daily for on-mountain eats.

Telluride is starting the season with 35 inches of snow in the past week, with more on the way ahead of its official opening day on Thursday 28 November. More than one foot fell on Saturday alone as locals celebrated a Bluebird day in the mountain town and a further foot of fresh powder last night. Lifts in the resort will being turning today ahead of its Thanksgiving opening.

Vail, which officially opened for the 19.20 season on 16 November, has also announced that trails off Northwoods Express and Sourdough Express are now open (as of Monday 25 November), for a total of 360 skiable acres, 29 open trails and 5 chairlifts.

Steamboat was originally scheduled to open on Saturday 23 November, with the opening day brought forward by one week to 15 November, signaling the resort’s earliest opening in 50 years. The season commenced with the Christie Peak Express featuring 50 acres, 1,100 vertical feet and 10 trails including Sitz, Sitzback, Jess’ Cut-Off, Vogue, lower Short Cut, Stampede, Boulevard, upper Giggle Gulch and Right O Way, as well as Desperado Carpet and select features in Lil’ Rodeo Terrain Park. Lessons are available with Steamboat SnowSports School and the Outlaw Mountain Coaster in action. The new Steamboat gondola was also opened on Sunday 24 November, which increases capacities and decreases ride times.

Other ski areas and resorts in Colorado opening this week include Crested Butte and Purgatory today (27 November) and Echo Mountain on 29 November.

This wave of resort openings follows many record-breaking early openings this season, with Arapahoe Basin opening on 11 October; Monarch celebrating its earliest opening since 1969 on 1 November, Winter Park having its earliest opening on record on 2 November following 40 inches of snow in October. Keystone and Breckenridge both had the snowiest October on record with 48 inches at Breckenridge (which opened 8 November) and 44 inches at Keystone (which opened 1 November).

For more information about Snow’s Perfect State, Colorado, and its 28 ski areas, visit www.colorado.com/28resorts.

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Make the Australian Dollar Go Further in New York City #SeeYourCity

#SeeYourCity

Enjoy 2-for-1 Tickets to Broadway, Museums, Tours, Attractions, Performing Arts and Prix-Fixe Menus at Top Restaurants

NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organisation, today announced the return of NYC Winter OutingSM, which will run from January 21 to February 9, 2020.

NYC Winter Outing combines NYC & Company’s three signature programs—NYC Broadway WeekSM, NYC Restaurant Week® and NYC Must-See WeekSM—creating ultimate value across the five boroughs. During the three-week period, select Broadway shows, attractions, museums, tours and performing arts will offer 2-for-1 tickets and nearly 400 restaurants will feature prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner.

Additionally, the City’s hotels offer the most attractive rates of the year. Further details on NYC Winter Outing can be found at nycgo.com/nyc-winter-outing. Reservations for these winter value programs commence on January 8, 2020.

The NYC Winter Outing landing page provides inspiration through a handful of mini-itineraries, curated to unique traveller interests, that include an NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must-See Week activity: “An Art-Filled Day in NYC,” “A Classic Day in NYC,” “A Family Day in NYC” and “A Glam Day in NYC.”

“Following an overwhelmingly positive response, we’re pleased to welcome NYC Winter Outing back for its second year, adding unmatched value to the enchanting experiences offered across the five boroughs during the winter months,” said NYC & Company president and CEO Fred Dixon.

Brooklyn Bridge Park in Winter © Julienne Schaer

New this year, NYC & Company’s global partnership with Mastercard provides Mastercard holders with exclusive offers that take advantage of NYC Winter Outing, including early access to reservations and tickets.

“It is Mastercard’s priority to provide cardholders with Priceless experiences in top travel destinations around the world across the passions that bring us together. Partnering with NYC & Company to simultaneously promote theater, dining and culture in NYC is the perfect way to emphasize that commitment,” said Cheryl Guerin, executive vice president of North America Marketing & Communications at Mastercard.

NYC Winter Outing details—including the 21 shows participating in NYC Broadway Week; museums, tours, attractions and performing arts venues participating in NYC Must-See Week; and restaurants participating in NYC Restaurant Week—can be found at nycgo.com/nyc-winter-outing. This landing page also features nycgo.com’s “favoriting” tool, which allows visitors to save a list of NYC Winter Outing participants that will be bookable once reservations for all three programs go live on January 8. Visitors can also sign up for nycgo.com emails to receive a reminder—including the “favorited” list—once the reservation period opens.

As of today, visitors can also book overnight accommodations at select hotels listed at nycgo.com/nyc-winter-outing to take advantage of some of the best rates of the year. For more comprehensive content on hotels, visit nycgo.com/hotels.

Massive turnout for 51st IPW in Anaheim

U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow

More than 6,000 attendees from over 70 countries gathered in Anaheim, CA, June 1-5 for this year’s IPW—the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S.

IPW gathers travel professionals—including U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions, sports teams and transportation companies, and international tour operators, buyers and wholesalers from around the world—to meet in one place to help bring the world to America.

At this year’s IPW, there were 110,000 prescheduled business appointments between suppliers and buyers, which is estimated to result in $5.5 billion in future international travel to the U.S. over the next three years. This has been revised upward from the $4.7 billion in future international travel to the U.S. estimated in past years.

Additionally, more than 500 members of the media attended IPW. These journalists covered the event itself, and also met with business and destination leaders to generate stories encouraging travel to the U.S.



While IPW is only a few short days, its impact will be felt in Anaheim and the Orange County region for years to come. According to Rockport Analytics, hosting IPW is anticipated to bring hundreds of thousands of additional international visitors to Anaheim and the Orange County region over the next three years, generating a significant local economic impact.

This is the 10th time IPW has been held in California and the second time it has been held in Anaheim since the city last hosted in 2007.

“IPW brings the world to America and presents travel buyers, suppliers and media the phenomenal opportunity to connect under one roof,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow. “We are thrilled to once again bring IPW to Anaheim, and we are so grateful for the work of Visit Anaheim and Visit California to help us produce this important event.”

The 52nd IPW will be held in Las Vegas from May 30-June 3, 2020.

On Location Tours brings you up close to the lights, camera and action!

Take a TV & movie tour with On Location Tours to follow in the footsteps of your favorite TV and movie characters. On Location Tours is a one-of-a-kind sightseeing company that offers unique TV and movie-themed bus tours in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Each tour highlights popular sites featured on the big and small screens. Celebrating 19 years in business, the company is one of the East Coast’s most popular tourist attractions and is one of the world’s largest TV and movie tour companies.

Six separate bus tours and one walking tour are currently offered in New York City: NYC TV & Movie Tour, Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, Gossip Girl Sites Tour, Sopranos Sites Tour, The Super Tour of NYC: Heroes! Comics! More! TCM Classic Film Tour, When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour, Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour, and Central Park TV & Movie Sites walking tour. On Location Tours also operates the Boston Movie Mile walking tour as well as private group tours in Boston. All tours are led by local actors who offer inside industry information from a first-hand perspective.

Cafe Lalo from 'You've Got Mail'

The NYC TV & Movie Tour features more than 40 locations from some of the most popular TV shows and movies that use NYC as a backdrop. This three-hour tour showcases locations from Friends, Seinfeld, American Hustle, Glee, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Trainwreck, Mr. Robot, Birdman, Girls, The Smurfs, Spider-man, How I Met Your Mother, The Amazing Spider-man, Marvel’s Daredevil and Jessica Jones, and so much more. This tour is available in French via an app on your smartphone.

The Sex and the City Hotspots Tour includes more than 40 locations from the hit TV show and both movies. Follow in the footsteps of Carrie & Co. to see where they shop, drink and dine. Locations include the site of Big and Carrie’s rehearsal dinner, the shop where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit,” the bar owned by Aidan and Steve in the series and Carrie’s stoop. This tour is available in German via a new PocketGuide App on your smartphone.

Ghostbusters fire station

Experience a day in the life of Manhattan’s privileged Upper East Siders on the Gossip Girl Sites Tour. See The Palace Hotel, home to the Bass and van der Woodsen families, The Constance Billard School for Girls, Dylan’s Candy Bar, and shop at Henri Bendel, where Blair and Serena frequent. There are more than 40 locations on this tour.

New Jersey is the destination for Sopranos Sites Tour, covering more than 40 locations from the hit show. The Bada Bing, the Muffler Man and Pizzaland are some of the highlights.

Pizzaland from Sopranos

Comic fans from around the world can unite in New York City on The Super Tour of NYC: Heroes! Comics! More! See where your favorite superheroes from The Avengers, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Jessica Jones and so much more saved the day on this three-hour guided bus tour.

Go back in time on the Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Tour to see some of the most iconic locations from the most filmed city in the world. This tour gives movie lovers the opportunity to connect with the TCM brand and share their passion for great films in a unique way. See locations from King Kong, Woody Allen’s Manhattan, The Seven Year Itch, North by Northwest, Superman, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and so much more.

The When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour takes a look at TV & movie locations above Times Square - bringing fans closer to some of the most famous uptown locations featured on the big and small screens. The tour is inspired by classic shows that epitomize NYC such as Seinfeld and romantic comedies including When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail. Locations from recent hits like Trainwreck, Pitch Perfect, How To Be Single, The Amazing Spider-Man, Gossip Girl and The Other Guys give this tour a fresh twist.

How I Met Your Mother in McGee's Pub

The Holiday Lights & Movie Sites is a seasonal tour that started in November 2013.On this tour, participants can see how a lit up New York City sparkles during the holidays as the tour bus travels to iconic landmarks and some of the city’s hidden gems featured in classic holiday movies such as Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone 2, Elf, Scrooged, and many more. The tour runs from Black Friday through January 1.

For those interested in seeing New York’s most famous backdrop, the walking tour of Central Park TV & Movie Sites is a tour through this world-famous park, covering more than 30 movie locations. The tour visits the Literary Walk seen in the season finale of Glee, the Boathouse from When Harry Met Sally, the Bandshell from Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bethesda Fountain seen in Enchanted and Wollman Rink used in Serendipity. This tour is available in French, German and Spanish.

The Boston Movie Mile walking tour visits more than 25 locations from movies and TV shows such as Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Blown Away, Cheers and many others.

The bus tours take place on coach buses and include step-off locations for a quick bite to eat and for fun photo opportunities. TV theme songs and video clips from the actual television shows and movies seen on the tour are part of the overall experience. Advance purchase is required and tickets can be purchased by calling Zerve (212) 913-9780, or at www.onlocationtours.com. Ask about tours in different languages.


About On Location Tours, Inc.: Founded in June of 1999 by Georgette Blau, and is among the largest TV and movie locations tour companies in the world. Since the company’s inception, Blau has been featured in thousands of media outlets all over the world including: People Magazine, ABC's Primetime Live, The Travel Channel’s Road Trip, and Entertainment Weekly. In addition she has founded the Association of Tours of TV and Movies (ATTAM), the first organization to represent TV and movie tour companies around the world. Blau plans to establish TV and movie location tours in additional cities across the U.S.

Colorado's Ghost Towns Inspire Intrepid Journeys and Libation Tours

#IPW18

Colorado's history runs as deep as the silver and gold veins that once lured a surge of fortune seekers here during the late-1800's mining boom.

But when those rich resources went bust, dozens of towns were abandoned—leaving behind saloons, mercantiles and other hallmarks of Wild West life. Catch glimpses of this bygone era in the remains of ghost towns tucked amid high peaks and remote wilderness. Though you'll have to drive a portion of the way to these deserted destinations, take an intrepid approach for the final leg.


ATV/OFF-ROAD VEHICLE

Ghost towns in Colorado range from mere ruins to surprisingly intact hamlets—for the latter, venture St. Elmo, where a few lingering residents run a general store and a guesthouse. Seek the help of Buena Vista's ATV Mountain Adventure Rentals, which will drop you and your rented ride off trailside (and pick you up later), leaving you to explore the dusty, straight-out-of-a-movie set streets on your own. An ATV also comes in handy for a bonus trip to nearby Tin Cup.

Set your sights on Animas Forks, located high in the San Juan Mountains. Just 12 miles away in Silverton, Rock Pirates Backcountry Adventures can hook you up with one of its rugged Tomcar OHVs for a bumpy-yet-scenic excursion up the Alpine Loop Scenic & Historic Byway. Check out nine remaining structures, including the two-story Duncan House with its impressive bay window.


HIKE

The North Park area is home to Teller City, a former silver-mining camp that at one time boasted 27 saloons, hundreds of log cabins and more than 1,500 residents—not too shabby given its dense-forest location. Head southeast of Walden to the Teller City Interpretive Site, then hit the .75-mil loop trail that winds arounds scattered remains of cabins and other artifacts.

The high-altitude setting of Carson (almost 12,000 feet) makes it all the more rewarding for its views of massive peaks. Lake City, situated near the Continental Divide, is your base for this adventure. Hop on the Alpine Loop Scenic & Historic Byway to Wager Gulch Trailhead. The moderate-to-difficult hike is a steady, 3.4-mile climb leading through open meadows and aspen stands to the Carson site.


BIKE

Eleven miles south of Aspen, Ashcroft is one of a few ghost towns that can be visited year-round. But it would be a shame to miss the vivid colors of wildflower season in late summer or fall's brilliant foliage—both ideal times for a two-wheeled ride along Castle Creek Road. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, Ashcroft is currently maintained by the Aspen Historical Society, and highlights include the still-standing post office, Blue Mirror Saloon and town jail.

Central City escaped a boom-to-bust fate, but hidden just up the hill is Nevadaville, which bustled with some 4,000 people in its heyday. Several original buildings and a few gravesites are left, in addition to the Nevada Lodge No.4, still used by Freemasons for monthly meetings. The route up gravelly County Road 1-S is just over a mile and makes for a nice mountain-bike jaunt.


SNOWSHOE/CROSS-COUNTRY SKI

Wintertime doesn't always mean you can't visit—in fact the scene might have a more ethereal vibe blanketed in snow. South of Ouray lies Ironton Park, home to the slumbering remnants of the Ironton townsite. A local group maintains and grooms Nordic trails after fresh snows, including the roughly 2-mile Townsite Loop, which passes by a two-story Victorian house and the Larson Brother's Mine.

Close to Summit County's popular ski resorts is Mayflower Gulch Trail. Go six miles south of Copper Mountain to the trailhead, then strap on your showshoes for a four-mile round trip to Boston Mine. Your path follows a gently sloped wagon road through forest before opening up to a bowl peppered with old mining cabins and an ore chute at the base of Fletcher Mountain.


JEEP TOUR

Sometimes it's easier—but no less thrilling—to let the pros take the wheel. Telluride Outside guide service is happy to oblige with its 4WD tours in beefed-up Chevy trucks. The Imogene Pass itinerary departs from Telluride toward Tomboy on an intermediate road, meaning the tour is suited to all ages, but you'll still get your kicks. Amenities like tennis courts and a bowling alley once graced the area where a collection of collapsed remains and foundations now exist.

Strike out from Marble on an expedition to Crystal City, courtesy of Crystal River Jeep Tours. Your guide will navigate the terrain while you enjoy dramatic landscapes. Just before the town entrance is the exceptionally picturesque Crystal Mill, perched above the river. Two shops and a dozen cabins are reminders of the once-thriving community, but a few friendly summer residents also carry on.


PIT STOP: HISTORIC COLORADO WATERING HOLES

Detour from the ghost-town quest and relive the Old West at some of Colorado's oldest places to quench your thirst:
The Centennial State's longest-surviving gold-rush-era business, Buffalo Rose Saloon in Golden, got its start as the international Bowling Saloon in 1859.
Though established in 1862, the original building of The Mint in Silverthorne has been taken apart and moved three times.
Inside Aspen's historic Hotel Jerome, J-Bar has been slinging boozy concoctions to the likes of John Wayne and Hunter S Thompson since 1889.
Not much has changed at the New Sheridan Bar in Telluride since its 1895 construction within a hotel of the same name, from the mahogany wood paneling to stiff pours.
Dining and drinking venues have been operating in The Minturn Saloon's Vail Valley location since 1901.

*Exercise caution around all sites and be mindful of rapidly changing weather conditions, especially at high altitude. Taking souvenirs is strictly prohibited, but snap all the photos you like.

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Colorado Makers Movement - delicious innovation

#IPW18

How To Experience Unique Colorado Crafted Offerings Through Workshops, Tasting Rooms, Retail Spots 

Denver, CO – The Maker's movement, in many ways, is a celebration of the feeling that comes with putting your mind and hands to work creating something: an idea, a piece of art, delicious food or healing remedies. And, it's no wonder that the movement is alive and thriving in Colorado. Curiosity and inspiration are bred by the Rocky Mountains, northern plains, and fruitful valleys that build the mosaic of the Centennial state. Find the maker in your during a visit to one (or many) of Colorado's unique maker businesses.


Find inspiration at the Pikes Peak Makerspace

If you aren't driven to any particular craft but are drawn to idea of craftiness, the Pikes Peak Makerspace is the perfect place to wet your feet. In Colorado Springs, the Makerspace is a hub that brings together artists and engineers, entrepreneurs, designers and educators to mix their minds and visions and “revolutionize creativity”. Visitors can tour the space every Friday from 10:30 am – 2:00 pm. Stay a while and sign on for classes like Mill & Lathe Operations, introductions to welding and metal work, and 3D printing for beginners.

It's all in the details: art of the craft at DRAM Apothecary

Born of founder Shae Whitney's deep commitment to Colorado's wild terrain and a love of botany, food science, and ecological agriculture, the DRAM Apothecary in the sleepy town of Salida offers a line of products that are crafted using organic and wild Colorado herbs, foraged from nearby landscapes. Stop by the apothecary for a tasting, and then head home to see what crafty creations (cocktails or otherwise) you're inspired to create of your new bitters and syrups. Or, simply enjoy a cup of hot tea sent straight from the maker's hand.

Bring creativity to the catch: Fly-tying at Peter's Fly Shop

In Fort Collins Colorado, sit down with a community of people who do what they love, and love what they do. Located at the northern edge of Colorado and butting up against Rocky Mountain National Park, the folks at St. Peter's are driven to craft their own wares and inspired by the never-ending learning associated with the challenges of the sport and the nearby access to renowned waters. And, they're available to teach you, too. Intro to fly-tying classes are available (on select dates) throughout the fall and into winter, and private fly-tying classes can be scheduled. Don't miss the opportunity to craft and then test your creation on one of St. Peter's many guided tours.

A labor of love: Cheesemaking at Haystack Mountain

Join the artisan spirit of the maker's movement, and please your stomach to boot. Tours of the cheesemaking process are available Monday-Friday, 10 am – 4pm at the Haystack headquarters in Longmont, CO. Aside from tempting your pallet with some of Haystack's finest chesses— bloomy rind, fresh, Monterey jack, raw milk or washed rind—these tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creamery, an overview of economic fundamentals, and guided cheese tasting. Don't let the journey end there: take the making into your own hands with one of Haystack's “Art of Cheese” classes.

Spin Some Yarns with De Goats N Sheep Ranch in Durango, CO

Spend the day with Wensleydale sheep and Angora goats, stay in the solar-paneled guest house, and put your hands to work at spinning lessons, watercolor felting lessons, knitting and beginning spindle spinning, carding or children's classes. Staying on site, you can pull inspiration from the texture of freshly harvested wool to the scent of pinyon and juniper on the 16-acre dryland pasture in Bayfield, CO.

All about the process at Big B's Cidery (& Delicious Orchards)

From seed to spirit, Big B's Delicious Orchard makes their own cider, juice, vinegar and more. Follow the process by wandering and harvesting from the orchards, sampling juices and ciders, and taking the final product for some campsite enjoyment at the end of a nourishing day. The maker's movement is all about process, and visitors to Big B's can witness it from start to tart, delicious finish.

In love with R & D: high-mountain crafts from Venture Snowboards

Founded in 1999, Venture Snowboards uses Colorado terrain as an endless test-bed for their local, hand-made boards. Creativity and thinking big, paired with epic San Juan Mountain riding out the factory door, all feed the innovative process at Venture. Housed in the rural mountain town of Silverton, CO, Venture offers inspiring events, like Shape Shack, that bring together industry movers and shakers to daydream ways to push the industry envelope. And, while the process is top secret (can't share that special sauce!), their factory showroom offers an exciting peak into the process and high-quality boards for purchase.

Care for the craft, and crafting for care at Osmia Organics

Sarah Villafranco, founder of Osmia Organics, is all about the craft of care. With a background working in the ER, Villafranco brings deep care to the art of making luxerious, safe, skin-care products from the highest quality ingredients. In Carbondale, the space itself is a laboratory of creation (and visitors are welcome); soap making, laboratory clean-work rooms, retail and packaging are all onsite. Sometimes the crafts are best left to the masters, and, since self-care is a must for any form of inspiration and creativity, stop by Osmia and treat yourself.

Keeping in touch with origins at Greeley Hat Co

Entering the store in Greeley is to revisit an era of Maker's long-past and newly revived; the remnants of a bygone era decorate the store and line the shelves. Simultaneously hat shop and museum, Greeley Hat Co offers a peek into the past and a glimpse at the present of hat making. These fine-quality hats are all built one at a time, by hands. Find inspiration in the space and the feel of the hats, and then let the masters get to work making a custom-hat you'll cherish for the long haul.

The love of place: Leadville's Placemark Designs

In so many endeavors, the love of place drives creativity across that state (and beyond). As is the case for Leadville local and Placemark Design gallery owner and artist, Gail Sovick. An artist and educator who is crazy about all things creative, Sovick draws on her love of the outdoors and her fascination with maps to craft unique, mixed-media resin belt buckles and jewelry. Custom orders can celebrate your connection to Colorado, or anywhere you call home.

Whether you'll appreciate the time and care someone put into their craft or creating something of your own, Colorado is the perfect place to celebrate the maker in you.

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2017 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. For the Colorado Heritage & Agritourism ROOTS Guide, visit http://www.colorado.com/roots

Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare, Flickr, Tumblr and YouTube.

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Colorado Springs New Adventures for 2018

Colorado Springs, home to more than 55 attractions and activities including Pikes Peak – America's Mountain and Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado Springs is sure to inspire an unforgettable visit. 

CityPASS New Partner Destination: Denver, Colorado

It was announced today that the newest North American destination to offer the popular CityPASS® formula of discounted, bundled admission to the most popular visitor attractions is Denver, Colorado. Today's launch increases the number of destinations for which travelers can purchase CityPASS tickets to 13.

“We've had our eye on Denver for several years now,” said Megan Allen, CityPASS president and CEO. “The city offers that perfect blend of family-friendly and cultural attractions that makes it ideal for our customers. Combine that with Colorado's striking scenic beauty and Denver's nearly 300 days of sunshine per year, and you've got a pretty compelling draw for travelers.”

The new Denver CityPASS C3/C4/C5

The new Denver CityPASS C3/C4/C5 ticket is a mobile ticketing concept that allows users to select any three, four or five attractions from a list of eight top sights. The ticket is delivered directly to the purchaser's email, which can be saved to their smartphone and easily scanned at each attraction. Designed to be both flexible and customizable, the tickets do not require the buyer to pre-select the attractions that will be visited; travelers are free to choose as they go.

Depending on the attractions chosen, Denver CityPASS ticket holders can save up to 31 percent off the cost of purchasing the included tickets individually (savings increases to 34 percent on June 1, 2018). The list of attraction options includes:

• Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
• Denver Art Museum
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
• Denver Zoo
• Downtown Aquarium—Denver
• History Colorado Center
• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

“Depending on their length of stay and personal interests, Denver CityPASS ticket holders can customize an itinerary that best fits their schedule,” Allen added. “CityPASS has always been guided by the tenets of making travel easier, more affordable and more accessible. Our development team made sure the new Denver program directly hits all those goals.”

Denver CityPASS mobile tickets are valid for seven consecutive days, including the first day of use. Available for sale exclusively on CityPASS.com, the tickets are available in the purchaser's choice of seven languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish.

Pricing for Denver CityPASS tickets starts at $39 for adults; $29 for children, age 3-11:

• C3 (visit any three attractions): $39, adults; $29, children
• C4 (visit any four attractions): $48, adults; $38, children
• C5 (visit any five attractions): $57, adults; $47, children

About CityPASS: For more than 20 years, CityPASS tickets have been premier products for travelers who want to visit a destination's top attractions while enjoying significant savings. CityPASS tickets, which have a 97 percent customer recommendation rating, are currently available in 13 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. For more information, visit CityPASS.com.

Prices and programs subject to change. CityPASS® is a registered trademark of City Pass, Inc., and the exclusive property of City Pass, Inc.

Traveloscopy | 

Seattle's Downtown and Waterfront See Exciting Changes and Upgrades

Seattle's downtown and waterfront cores have seen incredible changes in the past two years alone. From new and updated attractions to improved and cutting-edge transportation solutions, Seattle is consistently creating fresh and innovative ways to invite both visitors and locals alike to experience Seattle. Just a few of the new and upcoming improvements include Pike Place Market's new MarketFront, a 360'degree “spacelift” of the Space Needle, and improved public and air transportation in and around the city.

North American Airports' Construction, Capacity Challenges

J.D. Power has just released its 2017 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

This year's study found that passenger satisfaction has reached an all-time high, since airports are effectively managing the challenges of ongoing construction and increased capacity through tech investment and creative outreach initiatives.

More specifically:

·         Overall satisfaction reaches all-time high: Overall customer satisfaction scores have reached an all-time high of 749 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is up 18 points from last year's all-time high. Improvement is driven primarily by a 25-point increase in satisfaction with security check, thanks largely to fewer TSA staffing issues this year, and gains in two factors: check-in/baggage check (+19 points) and food, beverage, and retail (+15 points). Self-service bag-check kiosks and other bag-tagging technologies have played a significant role in improving the baggage check process.

·         Tech investment helps overcome logistical hurdles: With nearly every airport in the country dealing with challenges of high passenger capacity and ongoing construction projects to address increased demand, technology is helping to directly address these issues. For example, Sacramento International Airport has developed a smartphone app that tells travelers where they can find a parking spot, and virtually every airport in the country has invested heavily in improving phone-charging stations and internet access in their terminals.

LiLou the pig is the newest member of San Francisco International Airport's Wag Brigade. 

·         Dogs, horses and pigs! Oh, my!: Many airports have also found success in improving customer satisfaction through creative use of high-touch traveler outreach initiatives. Phoenix Sky Harbor, for example, deploys a team of therapy dogs for passengers to pet while they wait to board; San Francisco International features a pet therapy pig that roams the terminal looking for pets and selfies; and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport has more than 30 stress-relieving ponies on staff with which travelers can interact.

·         Big city construction projects remain obstacle to satisfaction: Despite the most creative efforts to address traveler frustration, major city airports that are in the thick of massive construction efforts—notably Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, Los Angeles International and Chicago O'Hare—are still fighting the headwinds of traveler disruption and access challenges that are handicapping their overall satisfaction scores.

Orlando International, John Wayne, and Sacramento rank the highest in the Mega, Large, and Medium airport categories.

IPW17: U.S. Travel Industry’s Message to the World: "Welcome"

"One Big Welcome" Is the Theme of Industry’s Largest Annual Trade Show, June 3-7 in Washington, D.C.

Exhibitors on the floor of IPW

The major annual event at which U.S. destinations, travel businesses and attractions work to attract international visitors kicks off at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, June 3 with a topical overarching theme: “One Big Welcome.”

This is the first time Washington will host the U.S. Travel Association’s annual trade show known as IPW, which was awarded to the nation’s capital in 2013.

The travel industry is not unaware of the backdrop against which it will market the U.S. as a destination for travelers around the world.

"America’s relationship with the rest of the world in this era of transition and disruption is on minds across the globe," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "Washington is one of the most-watched cities in the world, yet one of the least understood. Capitol Hill isn’t just the mess you see on the news—it’s actually a vibrant neighborhood with parks and cafes. We need international travelers to realize they should come see this place for themselves—and that America wants them here."

With the unique intersection of politics and travel at this year’s IPW, U.S. Travel is offering special credentials to Washington, D.C.-based journalists to attend Dow’s 10:30 a.m. press conference and tour the show on Tuesday, June 6. Media can obtain credentials by reaching out to U.S. Travel press contacts.

IPW, now in its 49th year, generates over $4.7 billion in future travel to the U.S., by directly convening U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions and wholesalers for three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments with international buyers and travel media.

This year’s IPW is set to welcome more than 6,000 attendees from 70 countries, including over 1,300 international tour operators and other businesses that book travel to U.S. destinations, with a record number of delegates from China; nearly 500 international and domestic journalists; and representatives from over 1,100 U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions and other travel businesses.

U.S. Travel and Brand USA, America’s tourism promotion agency, have partnered with Destination DC to stage the event, which will generate major returns for the local economy for an estimated three years after IPW concludes. According to the independent research firm Rockport Analytics, IPW is expected to generate $1.7 billion in economic impact to the city of Washington, D.C. and attract more than one million additional visitors to the Washington, D.C. area during that time.

IPW attendees will also have the opportunity to join exclusive tours of Washington, D.C. and the region, and enjoy spectacular evening entertainment at iconic sites, including the opening night event at the National Air and Space Museum, the press brunch at the Newseum, a VIP dinner at Washington National Cathedral and the closing night event at Nationals Park.

All the while they will be buffeted by the “One Big Welcome” branding created by the host organizations for this year’s event—starting the moment they get off the airplane, with welcome lounges sponsored by Destination DC at Dulles International and Reagan National airports.

Said Dow: “My heartiest thanks go out to Elliott Ferguson and his team at Destination DC for their incredible preparation for IPW 2017. They’ve put together a phenomenal program that drives home the idea that Washington, D.C.—like America as a whole—is first and foremost a place of dynamic attractions and unparalleled hospitality.”

Learn more about IPW 2017 at www.ipw.com.

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